The report this week is generally "slow". We are in the August doldrums with warm water. Fortunately, the water levels are reasonable, although down. There are few fresh entering the system. Most anglers are waiting for the fall runs to begin.

The Miramichi Salmon Association which operates the hatchery, is one of the sponsors of this column, and has the unique notoriety of being the longest continuously operating fish hatchery in North America.

Hatchery manager Mark Hambrook emphasized that the role of the hatchery is "simply to help preserve and conserve the salmon stocks. We push for the conservation of Atlantic Salmon, and yet we also want anglers to be able to enjoy the sport of angling and so we strongly urge every angler to carefully return all salmon back to the river so they can spawn," said Hambrook. He has often referred to the work of the hatchery as "An insurance policy for the salmon stocks in the Miramichi."

The MSA will be holding its Annual Fredericton dinner on Wednesday, September 16 when they will honour Dr. Jack McKay. Tickets are $100 with all profits going back to salmon conservation. For more information and tickets, contact Joanne Linton at (506) 457-2220.

As September approaches, the MSA will be getting ready to collect their brood stock for the hatchery. This ensures a certain number of eggs will be raised at the hatchery and then put back as fry into the rivers from which they came.

Hambrook noted that the MSA is completing its electro-seining project for the year, and says there are very encouraging results.

"With all of the high water last fall, a good number of salmon were able to go up into the brooks to spawn. We are finding fry in areas where we haven’t seen them in years. That’s very encouraging and bodes well for the future," said Hambrook.

So the next time you have a few minutes to spare, drop into the hatchery and take a tour. It will give you an even greater appreciation..... click here to read rest of this story

Another sponsor this week is the Moncton Fish & Game Association. They do much to help promote a love and respect of the outdoors and the sports of hunting and fishing. They encourage and teach Fly-Tying to both adults and the younger generation. The club is involved in working closely with the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Petitcodiac River-Keepers and their efforts to restore and conserve the fish populations.

The club has two annual fun-raisers which are their annual dinner in November and a Pig-Roast in the spring. They use the funds for projects and to send kids to outdoor summer camps. They have about 100 members and welcome anyone who loves the outdoors. Membership is only $20 a year plus $50 if members want to sue the Shooting Range which they have. They also have a speaker at every meeting.

The next meeting is on September 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rotary Lodge when they will host a barbeque. The speaker for the Sept.14 meeting will be "Charlie Leblanc, speaking on the Yukon and the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation".

So get out and become involved in the Moncton Fish & Game Association. Contact club president Clarence Donelle at 506-388-3175 or 506-381-3165 for more information.

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said there was not a lot to report this week. There was a slightly positive change for the water with cooler temperatures and a few showers. There were a few fish being caught, but no great numbers. It was slow, but certainly not dismal with some pools producing adequately, but below average. The cold water pools seemed to be doing better. This is what you might call normal for the time of year as we await the fall runs.

Flies of choice were more Dry Flies and Bombers along with a smattering of Bugs and a few fall patterns such as Ally’s Shrimps. Anglers were using nos. 4 & 6 hooks in the Bombers and nos. 6 & 8 in the wets.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said angling was very slow, with maybe a fish or two a day at most. These are likely to be only from the cold-water pools. Generally, the water was warm, but he felt cooler nights, and hopefully some rain, would help to get things going again.

Flies of choice were Bombers and a few fall patterns such as Ally’s Shrimps and General Practitioners.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said there was no fish, except in the mouths of brooks and it would be a shame to hook them as they would never survive in this warm water. Although the water was warm, it was far from the lows experienced most summers. There were just very, very few fresh fish coming into the system.

Flies of choice were Dry Flies, Bombers and Killer Whiskers, along with a few Gray Wulff’s.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said angling was very slow with only the odd fish being taken here and there. Water temperatures were up and the levels were down. As September approaches, it might be time to plan a fall canoe or kayak trip.

Flies of choice were Bomber with various patterns such as chartreuse & brown, white & Orange, green & brown along with wet flies such as the White-tailed Green Machine, the double-butt Green Machine and Shady Ladies.

George Routledge of George’s Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said fishing was terrible. He hadn’t heard of a fish being hooked in a while. The water temperature was in the 70’s Fahrenheit and rain was needed. What fish were there, were not moving.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Black Ghosts, Copper Killers and Bombers.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported slower angling with not as many anglers out due to low and warm water conditions. He welcomed the cooler temperatures and felt it would improve things for both the fish and anglers. A good rain would liven things up and perhaps bring in the fall runs.

Flies of choice were Dry Flies and Bombers along with wets such as the White-tailed Green Machine, Shady Lady and a few Ally’s Shrimps.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said fishing was quiet with only a fish or two being reported each day. Crown reserve stretches were not producing well, with results being moderate at best. The water was low, but very early in the mornings, the temperature was decent enough for fish to take. Syd felt cooler temps this week would help and rain would be welcomed.

I’m wondering if the new secret fly being tied by Syd is the "Hairy-Beaver-Tail". My sources tell me Syd caught a beaver this past week. Now we all know Syd is a trapper, but this time he was using a "fly". I’m not sure of the design, but I suspect it is designed some what as follows: Reddish-brown butt, similar body with teeth-white "ribbing" jutting out from the base, black beady eyes, dark nose and two small tuffs of beaver hair for ears. A couple of dark brown feathers, covered with clear head cement will give the impression of webbed feet. A few sprigs of Krystal Flash on each side will serve as whiskers. The wing is probably many long strands of beaver hair, matted and woven together in many small "X-shaped patterns" so that it makes a loud slapping sound as it hits the water. It is pretty much a wet-fly when you "Castor", and it will stay submerged for long periods of time. It is not recommended to fish this fly near Dams or Popular trees, although a popular leaf may be woven around the barb of the hook. But Syd will have to verify the actual pattern himself.

Flies of choice were (other than the Hairy-Beaver-Tail) White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies and Bear Hairs on small nos. 8 & 10 hooks. The odd Bomber was raising fish, but they would not come back.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said they were only seeing the occasional fish. The water was low and hot, and only good for swimming.

Flies of choice were big Bombers

With cooler temperatures beginning to cool the water, and perhaps some rain to bring in the fall runs, it will be time to get out and "on the water".

P.S. Thanks to the large number of people who have signed up for the column and to those who have graciously agreed to sponsorship, as well as to those who have given feedback. We can still use more support and more sign-ups, so tell your friends. Send along your stories and photos.

Be sure to drop into Eskape Anglers in Riverview for all of your fishing needs, and pick up a few Carter’s Bugs (this is the time for them), and a few good stories from Bryant Freeman.

Another sponsor this week is Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers, operated by Chris Munn. He is the "authorized Dealer" for ORVIS fishing gear. We encourage anglers from that area, and those passing through, to drop into the shop located on 285 Canada St. Call (506) 450-4044 or contact chrismunn@frederictonoutfitters.com

All of these businesses and organizations support us, so let’s support them.

We also would like to thank a SECOND donor who made a contribution to keeping the column going. On behalf of me, Terry Matchett who does technical and business end of the column, and all who enjoy the column, we give a hearty THANK YOU for the support!

Thought for the Week: "The song of the river ends not at her banks, but in the hearts of those who have loved her."

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1st Annual Cumberland County Fundraising Dinner. September 5, 2009

This event will feature live and silent auctions as well as raffles suited to all outdoor enthusiasts, and a catered turkey dinner and dessert.

All funds raised at this event will go directly to maintaining and running the Williamsdale Fish Hatchery. The operation of this hatchery will allow us to raise native Atlantic salmon and brook trout fry to be stocked in Cumberland County rivers in conjunction with our habitat restoration work. We look forward to seeing you there. All fish tales welcome!

For tickets and more information please contact any of our committee members:
Brian Gairns 902-667-3772 | Danny Ripley: 902-667-3563 | Misty Ripley: 902-667-3563
Allan Glover: 902-667-5567 | Jack Allen: 902-597-3992 | Scott Doncaster: 506-384-0260
Mark Willigar: 902-243-2196

Location: Amherst Fire Hall, 62 Albion St., Amherst NS
Time: 6 pm cocktails, 7:15 pm dinner
Price: $20 single, $30 couple, $15 16 & under
Presented By: Cumberland County River Enhancement Association
Contact Name: Brian Gairns Contact Number: 902 667-3772

For your information. If you need more info, you can contact Scott Doncaster at doncasterflies@hotmail.com

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Congratulations are in order for 2009 Salmon Hall of Fame Inductees

The Atlantic Salmon Museum, Doaktown, N.B. will host its annual Hall of Fame Awards Banquet on Friday, September 25th, with a "meet and greet reception" at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:30pm.

Inductees for 2009 are as follows:
read more on our website www.atlanticsalmonmuseum.com

Donald and Hudson (Tompy) MacKay, father and son (both deceased) will be inducted in the GUIDE category, where both gentlemen were employed as guides for many years. Donald was also a caretaker at Burnt Hill.

William Basco (Willy) (deceased) born in Hungary. He guided and worked as a caretaker for Wades, and later for the Campbell's and Keenan's pools in Blackville. He will be inducted in the GUIDE category.

The Rev. Walter Chandler Lynch, lives in Miramichi. He learned "fly tying" from a couple of friends but mostly self-taught. He will be inducted as both an ANGLER, and a FLY TYER.

Jacques Heroux (Dieppe) A member of the N. B. Salmon Council, and the N. B. Wildlife Association. He has been a guest tyer at some of the major Fly Fishing Shows in Canada and in 1999 he was the winner of the Atlantic Provinces Fly Tying Championship. He will be inducted as a FLY TYER.

The Guest speaker will be Doug MacDonald of Moncton. Doug is well known on the Miramichi, and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Miramichi Salmon Association.

A limited number of tickets are available; please phone (506) 365-7787 for your ticket today. $35.00 each.

Menu:

• 6oz Salmon with egg sauce, mashed potatoes, fiddleheads, carrots, homemade roll, coffee/tea, and dessert.

Activities that evening include:

• Silent Auction
• Chinese Auction
• 50/50 tickets

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TIGHT LINES...
Doug

Warm weather, warm water, warm fish and warm anglers. That about sums it up for this week. This combination is not conducive to good angling and is certainly not good for the fish. It is probably the time to go to the fly-bench rather than the river as the fish do not need any more stress. We are definitely into the "dog Days of August". Both counting fences have reported little activity as the fish are not moving.

This season seems to be one of extremes. We were often rained out and now baked out. But of the two, the rain-outs were certainly better for the fish.

The Miramichi Salmon Association which operates the hatchery, is now one of the sponsors of this column, and has the unique notoriety of being the longest continuously operating fish hatchery in North America.

Hatchery manager Mark Hambrook emphasized that the role of the hatchery is "simply to help preserve and conserve the salmon stocks. We push for the conservation of Atlantic Salmon, and yet we also want anglers to be able to enjoy the sport of angling and so we strongly urge every angler to carefully return all salmon back to the river so they can spawn," said Hambrook. He has often referred to the work of the hatchery as "An insurance policy for the salmon stocks in the Miramichi."

Hambrook said this season is unfolding as predicted. "Last year we had a great year in terms of grilse return, and we felt that this year we would have a big salmon return and this has proven to be true."

So the next time you have a few minutes to spare, drop into the hatchery and take a tour. It will give you an even greater appreciation..... click here to read rest of this story

Another sponsor this week is the Moncton Fish & Game Association. They do much to help promote a love and respect of the outdoors and the sports of hunting and fishing. They encourage and teach Fly-Tying to both adults and the younger generation. The club is involved in working closely with the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Petitcodiac River-Keepers and their efforts to restore and conserve the fish populations.

The club has two annual fund-raisers which are their annual dinner in November and a Pig-Roast in the spring. They use the funds for projects and to send kids to outdoor summer camps. They have about 100 members and welcome anyone who loves the outdoors. Membership is only $20 a year plus $50 if members want to use the Shooting Range which they have. They also have a speaker at every meeting.

The next meeting is on September 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rotary Lodge when they will host a barbeque. The speaker for the Sept.14 meeting will be "Charlie Leblanc, speaking on the Yukon and the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation".

So get out and become involved in the Moncton Fish & Game Association. Contact club president Clarence Donelle at 506-388-3175 or 506-381-3165 for more information.

Keith Pond has informed me he is no longer in the outfitting business, but will still be operating his restaurant. He said it was time to pursue other ventures and he wanted to spend more time with his grand-children and do some fishing on his own. On behalf of all his friends and angling clients, I THANK Keith for his co-operation, stories and friendship and wish him well in his new ventures. He will be missed!

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said angling was quiet with the very warm weather slowing things down. However, the water levels were good with an inch of rain Sunday buffering the heat somewhat. Most of the fish had moved into cold water pools.

Flies of choice were Dry Flies and Bombers along with smaller wet flies on no. 8 hooks.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said fishing was pretty slow with his clients catching maybe one a day. The water was down and warm. There were fish around, but they were not interested in looking at flies. The only places producing at all were the cold water pools.

Flies of choice were Dry Flies and Blue & white Bombers and Brown & white Bombers.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said angling was very, very slow with no fish being seen. He felt they were holding in the cold water pools and not moving. But there were anglers still fishing, but having no luck. The water was very warm and summer-time low. Rain was needed to freshen the system and to bring in new fish.

Flies of choice were Shady Ladies, White-tailed Green Machines, Bear Hairs, Green Rats and Blue Rats on nos. 8 & 10 hooks.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said the warm weather was making angling very slow, but water levels were decent. There were a few fish being caught, but not many. Canoeing and kayaking conditions were good providing one had lots of sunscreen. The water temperature was between 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines and Bombers.

George Routledge of George’s Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said the water levels were falling and the temperatures were very warm. As such, there were few if any anglers out. Sunday and Monday mornings the water temperature was 74 degrees, and that was an early reading, meaning conditions were not good for the fish. Routledge said if anglers wanted to fish, they should enjoy the hooking and immediately release the fish. If a fish was brought ashore, it was sure to die. He recommended going to the beach until the water cools.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Undertakers, and Colburns along with a variety of Bombers.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported very warm conditions with few reports of any catches. He said we were between the extremes of too much rain and too much heat and fishing was very spotty at best.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, some fall patterns such as Ally’s Shrimps and General Practitioners and Bombers.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said fish are still being seen in the pools, but not taking as well as anglers might like. However, there were reports of some success. Holly Harris broke his string of six or seven losses as they got away and landed a nice grilse Monday evening. On Monday morning Jason Matchett released a nice salmon. There are a few caught along the system on the weekend, so anglers are picking up the odd fish here and there, which is not bad for this time of year. The water temperatures were up some, but holding decently.

Flies of choice were Green Machines with white tails, Shady Ladies, Bear Hairs and Undertakers on nos. 8 & 10 hooks, along with some Bombers.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said the fishing was wonderful, but the catching very far from that with the water very warm and getting low. Believe it or not, she had to say we need a good rain to get the river up. "The warm weather has sucked the life out of it" she said, with the water temperatures 75 degrees plus.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines and Bombers.

With all due regard for the beach goers, we do need some rain (boy, it’s hard to say that after the summer (??) we’ve had), and by the forecast we could get a good dousing depending on the track of Hurricane Bill. The rain will help the rivers and the fish, and quite possibly bring in some of the fall hook-bills. Then we can look forward to getting out and "on the water".

P.S. Thanks to the large number of people who have signed up for the column and to those who have graciously agreed to sponsorship, as well as to those who have given feedback. We can still use more support and more sign-ups, so tell your friends. Send along your stories and photos.

Be sure to drop into Eskape Anglers in Riverview for all of your fishing needs, and pick up a few Carter’s Bugs (this is the time for them), and a few good stories from Bryant Freeman.

Another sponsor this week is Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers, operated by Chris Munn. He is the “authorized Dealer” for ORVIS fishing gear. We encourage anglers from that area, and those passing through, to drop into the shop located on 285 Canada St. Call (506)-450-4044 or contact chrismunn@frederictonoutfitters.com

All of these businesses and organizations support us, so let’s support them.

We also would like to thank a donor who made a contribution to keeping the column going. This gracious donor wishes to remain anonymous, but on behalf of me, Terry Matchett who does technical and business end of the column, and all who enjoy the column, we give a hearty THANK YOU for the support!

Thought for the Week: "No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish." (John Ruskin)

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1st Annual Cumberland County Fundraising Dinner. September 5, 2009

This event will feature live and silent auctions as well as raffles suited to all outdoor enthusiasts, and a catered turkey dinner and dessert.

All funds raised at this event will go directly to maintaining and running the Williamsdale Fish Hatchery. The operation of this hatchery will allow us to raise native Atlantic salmon and brook trout fry to be stocked in Cumberland County rivers in conjunction with our habitat restoration work. We look forward to seeing you there. All fish tales welcome!

For tickets and more information please contact any of our committee members:
Brian Gairns 902-667-3772 | Danny Ripley: 902-667-3563 | Misty Ripley: 902-667-3563
Allan Glover: 902-667-5567 | Jack Allen: 902-597-3992 | Scott Doncaster: 506-384-0260
Mark Willigar: 902-243-2196

Location: Amherst Fire Hall, 62 Albion St., Amherst NS Time:6 pm cocktails, 7:15 pm dinner
Price: $20 single, $30 couple, $15 16 & under
Presented By: Cumberland County River Enhancement Association
Contact Name: Brian Gairns Contact Number: 902 667-3772

For your information. If you need more info, you can contact Scott Doncaster at doncasterflies@hotmail.com

---

TIGHT LINES...
Doug

The general consensus this week is that the water was still a bit high and that there were good numbers of fish, mostly salmon, in the system, but they were not taking well. Most expected angling to improve as the water dropped and the fish start to stay in the pools rather than sailing through.

The Miramichi Salmon Association which operates the hatchery, is now one of the sponsors of this column, and has the unique notoriety of being the longest continuously operating fish hatchery in North America.

Hatchery manager Mark Hambrook emphasized that the role of the hatchery is "simply to help preserve and conserve the salmon stocks. We push for the conservation of Atlantic Salmon, and yet we also want anglers to be able to enjoy the sport of angling and so we strongly urge every angler to carefully return all salmon back to the river so they can spawn," said Hambrook. He has often referred to the work of the hatchery as "An insurance policy for the salmon stocks in the Miramichi."

Hambrook said this season is unfolding as predicted. "Last year we had a great year in terms of grilse return, and we felt that this year we would have a big salmon return and this has proven to be true."

So the next time you have a few minutes to spare, drop into the hatchery and take a tour. It will give you an even greater appreciation..... click here to read rest of this story

A new sponsor this week is the Moncton Fish & Game Association. They do much to help promote a love and respect of the outdoors and the sports of hunting and fishing. They encourage and teach Fly-Tying to both adults and the younger generation. The club is involved in working closely with the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Peticodiac River-Keepers and their efforts to restore and conserve the fish populations.

The club has two annual fun-raisers which are their annual dinner in November and a Pig-Roast in the spring. They use the funds for projects and to send kids to outdoor summer camps. They have about 100 members and welcome anyone who loves the outdoors. Membership is only $20 a year plus $50 if members want to sue the Shooting range which they have. The next meeting is on September 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rotary Lodge when they will host a barbeque. So get out and become involved in the Moncton Fish & Game Association. Contact club president Clarence Donelle at 506-388-3175 or 506-381-3165 for more information.

Keith Pond of Pond’s Resort in Porter Cove Road said they were catching some fish in the flat water rather than in the pools as they were on the move. There were good numbers of fish around with more salmon than grilse. The water was high and canoeing conditions were good.

Flies of choice were Undertakers.

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said the water had been high last week, but angling improved over the weekend until the river went back up. By Wednesday of this week, fishing was starting to improve again. There were good numbers of fish around, but they were hard to narrow down. There were more salmon than grilse reported.

Flies of choice were Black Bugs, Glitter Bugs, White-tailed Green Machines, Same-Thing Murrays, and a few Ally’s Shrimps and General Practitioners.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said they were catching a few salmon, averaging three to four a day, but no grilse this week. The water was high, but starting to drop, but the temperature was good. The fish were there, but not taking well.

Flies of choice were Bombers and some fall patterns such as Ally’s Shrimps and General Practitioners.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said it was tough fishing. The water was dropping, but still had a ways to go. He’d heard that there was better fishing below and above Blackville and felt the fish were not stopping there. "I think someone told the fish to keep their mouths shut going through Blackville and they wouldn’t get into any trouble, and they seem to be doing just that" he said. He said there was one grilse caught on Tuesday evening on a Rusty Rat.

Flies of choice were Shady Ladies, Undertakers, Bear Hairs, Killer Whiskers, and Green Machines with white tails, Green Machines with glitter and regular Green Machines.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said anglers were getting a few fish, with more salmon than grilse being hooked. It was not unusual for the salmon to be in the 15-20 pound range. The water was high, but dropping. Canoeing and Kayaking conditions were good.

Flies of choice were Shady Ladies, Same-Thing-Murrays, White-tailed Green Machines and a variety of Bombers.

George Routledge of George’s Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said angling was poor with only one fish being caught between 10-12 anglers. The water was high and cold which was great for this time in August. He did not feel there were great numbers of fish around, and those that were, were not taking well. He felt this was the usual August down-time.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Shady Ladies, White-tailed Smurfs and White-tailed Green Machines.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported anglers catching a few as the water dropped to a reasonable level. He said some hook-bills were starting to be seen. There was still more salmon than grilse being seen, but there were better numbers of grilse than in the previous weeks, even though the grilse numbers were still down. Some of the salmon were reported to be in the 15-20 pound range.

Flies of choice were Dry Flies and Bombers along with wet flies such as Undertakers, Shady Ladies, and Green Machines.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said angling was quiet. There were good numbers of fish being seen, but there were few takers, and many of those which had been hooked ended up being lost. There were more salmon than grilse, with 15-20 pounders not uncommon. The crew at the Elbow Crown Reserve reported good fishing with good numbers of grilse.

Flies of choice were mostly dark such as Shady Ladies, Undertakers and Bear Hairs on mostly no. 6 hooks with a few 8’s starting to be used.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said the water was still on the high side, but dropping. There were fish around, with more salmon than grilse, but they not taking well. She felt angling would improve as the water continued to drop. "These are the Dog-Days of August" she said.

Last week one angler hooked a salmon and three grilse on a Blue Charm.

Flies of choice were Blue Charms and White-tailed Green Machines.

If the weather holds and we do not get any more rain, fish should start to pool more and angling should improve, especially with Bombers and Dry Flies coming into their own. So, get out and “on the water”.

P.S. Thanks to the large number of people who have signed up for the column and to those who have graciously agreed to sponsorship, as well as to those who have given feedback. We can still use more support and more sign-ups, so tell your friends. Send along your stories and photos.

Be sure to drop into Eskape Anglers in Riverview for all of your fishing needs, and pick up a few Carter’s Bugs (this is the time for them), and a few good stories from Bryant Freeman.

Another sponsor this week is Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers, operated by Chris Munn. He is the "authorized Dealer" for ORVIS Fishing gear. We encourage anglers from that area, and those passing through, to drop into the shop located on 285 Canada Street. Call (506)450-4044 or contact chrismunn@frederictonoutfitters.com

All of these businesses and organizations support us, so let’s support them.

We also would like to thank a donor who made a contribution to keeping the column going. This gracious donor wishes to remain anonymous, but on behalf of me, Terry Matchett who does technical and business end of the column, and all who enjoy the column, we give a hearty THANK YOU for the support!

Last week, fly-tyer Jacques Heroux, photographer Andre Gallant and I (writer) spent the week working on a new book that will highlight Fly-Fishing for Atlantic Salmon in NB. The book will be published by Gooselane Editions of Fredericton. We spent four days, writing, fishing, photographing and visiting various people, lodges and places associated with salmon fishing. We had a great day at Rodney Colford’s in Howards with Rodney and his dad Tom. Super people and a super spot. The water was high, but we managed to roll a few fish and saw great pieces of the river. We also dropped into Darlene’s Family Restaurant & Tea House on the Barnettville Road where we were treated royally and had a very fine meal.

We visited Doaktown and were treated extremely well by Atlantic Salmon Museum manager Linda Gaston, her husband Bev and all the staff. We received the same hospitable welcome at W.W. Doak and Sons.

We also visited the Miramichi Salmon Association’s Fish Hatchery in South Esk and were hosts of the DFO as they fished their Millerton Trap. A big thanks to John Hayward and Courtney Flanagan for their co-operation and support.

We visited Brock Curtis' Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville, George's Fly Shop in Quarryville and fished the Quarryville pool. Jacques lost one, I had a pull and rolled two and several more were hooked by other anglers around suppertime. Thanks to the anglers who allowed us to photograph them.

We also visited Keith Wilson’s Camps in McNamee where guide Joe Stewart managed to hook and release a grilse for us. Both Jacques and I had a few rolls, but couldn’t entice a good take. Again, a beautiful spot, great hospitality and a very tasty lunch. We have another week scheduled for late September.

Thought for the Week: "In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory." (Ray Bergman)

TIGHT LINES...
Doug

Generally speaking, the excessively high water conditions washed out most angling this past week. In some places, boats were the only means of getting on the river. With warmer weather this week, the levels are dropping, and correspondingly, angling is improving. But we do need an extended period without rain.

The Miramichi Salmon Association which operates the hatchery, is now one of the sponsors of this column, and has the unique notoriety of being the longest continuously operating fish hatchery in North America.

Hatchery manager Mark Hambrook emphasized that the role of the hatchery is "simply to help preserve and conserve the salmon stocks. We push for the conservation of Atlantic Salmon, and yet we also want anglers to be able to enjoy the sport of angling and so we strongly urge every angler to carefully return all salmon back to the river so they can spawn," said Hambrook. He has often referred to the work of the hatchery as "An insurance policy for the salmon stocks in the Miramichi."

Hambrook said this season is unfolding as predicted. "Last year we had a great year in terms of grilse return, and we felt that this year we would have a big salmon return and this has proven to be true."

A testament to this is the salmon counts at the Millerton trap on the Main Southwest Miramichi. Looking back the average salmon numbers to this time of year were 150-250. This year already there have been 775 salmon. This is the best salmon count to the end of July since the trap began operation at Millerton.

So the next time you have a few minutes to spare, drop into the hatchery and take a tour. It will give you an even greater appreciation..... click here to read rest of this story

Keith Pond of Pond’s Resort in Porter Cove Road said high water was making fishing quite poor. The fish were there, but not taking, and anglers were having a hard time just to get to the water. If the water drops, he expects angling to improve.

Flies of choice were anything odd such as the Popsicle which is a spring streamer.

W. W. Doak and Sons in Doaktown said there were good numbers of fish in the system, but people were having trouble getting a fly in front of them due to high water. There was only the odd salmon reported, and people were seeing more salmon than grilse. They expected angling to improve as the water drops.

Flies of choice were Black Bugs, Glitter Bears and White-tailed Green Machines.

Derek Munn of Ledges Inn in Doaktown and Mountain Channel in the Rapids area said in spite of the high water they did catch a few fish. Like last week, there have been more salmon (10-20 pound range) than grilse. He expected angling to improve as the water drops this week.

Flies of choice were no. 4 White-tailed Green Machines and an Ally’s Shrimp. But basically they were using anything big.

Herb Barry Sr. of Herb’s Fly Shop on the Station Road in Blackville said anglers were picking up a few, but the hardest part was getting through the alders to get to the river as the water was so high. Most catches were salmon with only the odd grilse. He too predicted an improvement as the water drops.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Undertakers and Bombers.

Curtis Miramichi River Outfitting in Blackville said anglers had only caught a few fish because the water was extremely high. Canoeing and kayaking conditions were very good. They expected conditions to improve as the water dropped.

Norma Brennan, who works at the Curtis shop, has a special project on the go this year. She is keeping a journal which she is calling "Catch of The Day", and she would appreciate anglers dropping in to record their catches with her.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines and anything big on nos. 2 and 4s.

George Routledge of George’s Fly Shop at the Mouth of Renous in Quarryville said the only anglers getting out were those in boats, and they were not catching a lot. He expected improvement as the week went on assuming the water drops.

Flies of choice were White-tailed and regular Shady Ladies, White-tailed and regular Green Machines and Black Ghosts.

Jim Laws of Miramichi Hunting and Fishing in Newcastle, Miramichi reported very high water conditions, with only the odd fish being caught, primarily because anglers couldn’t get near the river generally speaking. The catches were mostly salmon. He expected better fishing as the water dropped.

Flies of choice were Bombers and Dry Flies.

Syd Matchett of Trout Brook Fly Shop on the Northwest Miramichi said there was lots of water and still good numbers of fish around, but getting to them was the problem. Anglers had picked up a few and were still catching more salmon than grilse. He described the conditions Monday as "fishably high", but the fish were not taking well.

Syd felt sorry for Shawn Ingersoll. "I sell the same hooks to both he and his dad Dave, and Dave is hooking fish, but not Shawn. I hear Dave and Jean keep calling to know if Shawn wants a fish as Dave pretty well releases almost all of his fish, but Shawn refuses. I heard Shawn was seen at the Sobey’s Store drooling over the frozen salmon. I am hoping for him, but I’m wondering which it’s going to be--Sobey’s or calling dad", said Syd. I heard a hearty chuckle in the back-ground.

Flies of choice were White-tailed Green Machines, Shady Ladies, Bear Hairs and Squirrel Tails.

Debbie Norton of Upper Oxbow Outdoor Adventures on the Little Southwest Miramichi said they were catching a few despite the extremely high water. Bonnie Wright caught two grilse on Saturday and Debbie’s "Cuz Lois" caught a grilse and a 15-pound salmon. Norton said "it seems the ladies are the only ones doing the catching". She was waiting for the water to drop and expected an improvement in the fishing.

Fly of choice was the White-tailed Green Machine.

Hopefully all the children, and maybe a few adults, start singing the nursery rhyme "Rain, Rain, Go Away. Come again some other day." Then maybe the waters will drop and we can comfortably get out and "on the water".

P.S. Thanks to the large number of people who have signed up for the column and to those who have graciously agreed to sponsorship, as well as to those who have given feedback. We can still use more support and more sign-ups, so tell your friends. Send along your stories and photos.

As we move into August, we are getting into prime-time for the "Carter’s Bug". Be sure to drop into Eskape Anglers in Riverview for all of your fishing needs, and pick up a few Carter’s Bugs, check out his Reddington Rods, and get a few good stories from Bryant Freeman. Bryant may even give you a few good hints on how to fish it. Call (506)-386-6269.

Another new sponsor this week is Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers, operated by Chris Munn. He is the "authorized Dealer" for ORVIS Fishing gear. We encourage anglers from that area, and those passing through, to drop into the shop located on 285 Canada St. Call (506)-450-4044 or contact chrismunn@frederictonoutfitters.com.

Another of our sponsors is Paul Marriner who has produced a new salmon book titled Atlantic Salmon: A Fly Fishing Reference. A brief description of the book is below.

"The book is 8.5 x 11 inches, 240 pages, with more than 300 photos and illustrations with most in colour. The soft cover version retails for $40.00.

Table of Contents: Preface and Acknowledgments; Introduction; The Habits of Salmon; Tackle; Casting; Pools & Lies; Wet Fly Methods; Dry Fly Methods; Fishing A Pool; Hooking, Playing & Landing; Patterns; Places & Rivers; Random Casts & Final Thoughts; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.

Marriner is no stranger to Atlantic anglers. He is the author of: A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns (co-author), Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon."

I received an e-mail from Carey Cougle who fishes in the Juniper area. He finally broke a 12-year jinx by landing a grilse this past week. Now that’s love of the sport and a lot of patience. Congrats, Carey!

Thought for the Week: "Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." (Henry David Thoreau)

Please support our sponsors as they make this report possible!

Until next week...

TIGHT LINES...
Doug